Two British passengers were airlifted off the cruise ship Marella Voyager on Friday after falling ill, in two operations coordinated by the Portuguese Navy off Madeira.
In the first case, about 370 kilometres northeast of Funchal, a passenger suffering low blood pressure and a urinary infection was taken to hospital. Later, about 130 kilometres north of Funchal, an 82-year-old woman with a broken hip was also transported for treatment.
Both operations were carried out with the Portuguese Air Force, which deployed an EH-101 helicopter twice, according to a Navy statement.